HEART ATTACK: ASSESS MENT OF THE DAMAGE

What matters in a patient after a heart attack is the amount of muscles that have been rendered dead or damaged during the episode. The damaged or dead areas or muscles will not contribute to the pumping of blood from the heart, reducing the capacity of pumping. This pumping power of the heart (left ventricle which is the most important chamber) is called ejection fraction.

Echocardiogram is a test that can give an estimate of the pumping capacity of the left ventricle or the 4th chamber. It determines the ejection fraction (EF), which indirectly gives us the figure which has been damaged or dead. The normal ejection fraction is about 60%. If the EF after the MI or heart attack is 55%, it would mean that only 5% has been affected by the heart attack. On the other hand if this figure is 30%, this means it was a major heart attack and almost 30% of the muscles have been damaged. Please note that for bare survival even 15% ejection fraction is adequate. With 30% EF it will be possible to carry on with almost all the normal work.

Whatever be the damage, one must remember that the muscles which are not affected, need to be protected at any cost. The cholesterol deposits are there, even if the clot has been removed. One should work very vigorously to stop further accumulation of blockages and strive to reverse the existing blockages.

*38/283/5*

HEART ATTACK: ASSESS MENT OF THE DAMAGEWhat matters in a patient after a heart attack is the amount of muscles that have been rendered dead or damaged during the episode. The damaged or dead areas or muscles will not contribute to the pumping of blood from the heart, reducing the capacity of pumping. This pumping power of the heart (left ventricle which is the most important chamber) is called ejection fraction.Echocardiogram is a test that can give an estimate of the pumping capacity of the left ventricle or the 4th chamber. It determines the ejection fraction (EF), which indirectly gives us the figure which has been damaged or dead. The normal ejection fraction is about 60%. If the EF after the MI or heart attack is 55%, it would mean that only 5% has been affected by the heart attack. On the other hand if this figure is 30%, this means it was a major heart attack and almost 30% of the muscles have been damaged. Please note that for bare survival even 15% ejection fraction is adequate. With 30% EF it will be possible to carry on with almost all the normal work.Whatever be the damage, one must remember that the muscles which are not affected, need to be protected at any cost. The cholesterol deposits are there, even if the clot has been removed. One should work very vigorously to stop further accumulation of blockages and strive to reverse the existing blockages.*38/283/5*

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